400 Officials Face Lawsuits Over High Salaries

Iran's auditors said on Sunday some 400 public sector officials face legal proceedings over their exorbitant salaries.

A report by the Supreme Audit Court of Iran found that executives at state-owned banks had earned as much as 622 million rials ($20,000) per month compared to the average public sector salary of $400, Fars News Agency reported.

Ali Larijani, the parliament speaker, said the salaries were "a stain" on Iran's public sector and that legal cases had been opened against all 397 officials who earned more than 200 million rials per month.

"I hope [the report] will be the source of fundamental reform in the country so that individuals cannot take advantage [of the system]," he said.

"So far, 50 billion rials of unconventional salaries have been refunded to the treasury and the rest must be returned as well."

The scandal broke in May when leaked paychecks were published by conservative media outlets. One bank director, for instance, was shown to have earned $60,000 a month, including bonuses.

Several executives were sacked and the entire management of the National Development Fund of Iran was forced to resign following the leaks, while the government announced a cap on public sector salaries of 189 million rials and 100 million rials for those holding political offices.